By Dennis Shin '96
Noted preservationist and Cornell alumna Joan K. Davidson '48 will join Ithaca and Tompkins County in celebrating the area's architectural history April 12-13, as Historic Ithaca sponsors its fourth annual Old House Fair to be held at various locations throughout downtown Ithaca.
Centered around the theme "Making Preservation Work in the Real World," the two-day event will feature seminars April 12 at the Clinton House and a trade show April 13 at the Women's Community Building. Designed as an educational forum, the fair will emphasize the importance of the preservation and maintenance of older buildings.
An Arts and Sciences graduate and former New York state commissioner of parks, recreation and historic preservation, Davidson will deliver the keynote address April 12 at 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Church, 306 N. Aurora St. Organizer of the Rural New York Program, Davidson currently directs the J.M. Kaplan Fund's Furthermore Program, which benefits projects related to issues of restoration.
Last year, the New York Landmarks Conservancy honored Davidson with its Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award, and Historic Preservation magazine recently hailed the New York resident as an innovator in the field of historic preservation philanthropy. Davidson will join various speakers from across the Northeast who will address such topics as the National Register Program, preservation and economic redevelopment.
From a panel discussion on financing old house projects to a gallery display of old houses for sale, a diversity of exhibits in the trade show will demonstrate products and services for "historically sensitive renovation." In addition, Charles Pomada, the "Old House Doctor," will prescribe remedies for residents of ailing older houses, and educational seminars will be offered for both children and adults.
The fair also will feature a tour of the Llenroc mansion which currently houses Cornell's Delta Phi fraternity. Built in 1875, a year after the death of Ezra Cornell, the local landmark is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and stands as a classic example of Gothic Revival architecture.
Besides the Old House Fair, Historic Ithaca also hosts garden tours, house tours and graveyard tours throughout the year. Each May, the organization, which is located at the Clinton House on North Cayuga Street, holds its annual meeting at which preservation awards are presented to members of the Ithaca-Tompkins County community.
"Historic Ithaca is dedicated to the preservation of our architectural heritage," said Molly Adams, a volunteer who assists in the coordination of the Old House Fair. "We are interested not only in buildings but the built environment."
Tickets for the upcoming Old House Fair are $40 for non-members, $20 for members, and special rates are available for students or those who participate in selected events.